So many women feel guilty for taking the time to get in shape. Let’s face it, though, you can’t give your children and family your best if you don’t take the time to be your best self. You would never deny someone else the benefits of good health, so quit doing it to yourself. You deserve to have a break from the day, enjoy all of the heath benefits of running, and strive toward being a more complete person.

 

Everyone needs something that is their own. When I started running as a mom, it was initially because I needed to lose the baby weight. I had run for years but the baby weight comes no matter what shape you were in prior to giving birth. After the baby weight was gone, I realized that I needed to run just for peace and quiet. It was also for stress release from the constant sound of crying and whining.

I remember my mom running during my childhood. She would wake up before all of us because it was the only time during the day she could run. Later, when I was older, I would ride my bike alongside her while she was training for marathons. I would hand her water and would get to buy a treat from the gas station at the half way point. It is a great memory for me but it actually taught me a lot. My mom was willing to do anything for us as her children. But, she also found real value in taking care of herself and taught us that being a good mom does not mean abandoning who you are as a person.

 

Now I find that I run for a lot of reasons. I enjoy knowing I can have a cupcake with my kids and that I am fit enough to chase them around the yard. One of the most important lessons that I feel I can teach to my children is to have a strong sense of self. I don’t feel like I’d be a very good example of that if I quit being who I am and sacrificed everything in being a mom. Running, fitness, and generally taking care of oneself doesn’t have to take away from being a good mom. It should complement who you are as a mom. Running has made me a better mom.